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Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Monday appeared to be feeling the heat of not honouring the Special Investigation Team (SIT) summons. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley flew to Gandhinagar from Delhi on Monday to stand by the hassled CM.
Modi also broke his si

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi on Monday appeared to be feeling the heat of not honouring the Special Investigation Team (SIT) summons. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley flew to Gandhinagar from Delhi on Monday to stand by the hassled CM.

Modi also broke his silence on the summons and penned a strongly worded open letter to the public in his defence. BJP sources said Jaitley was requested to help out Modi in "this difficult time" and extend legal aid to him. Jaitley rose to the occasion as he defended Modi's no-show before the SIT on Sunday through a carefully worded statement before the media.

Blaming "vested interests" for circulation of "incorrect information on the March 21 summons", Jaitley said the SIT had not made any such request to Modi in the first place. Jaitley added that the CM would obey his constitutional and legal obligations and would appear before the SIT whenever they fix the time and date of the hearing. The fact that Jaitley had to be called in to intervene gave a strong signal that Modi is under tremendous pressure as regards the controversy.

"This is almost certain that he (Modi) is under pressure and needs help from his party to deal with the situation. However, knowing him, Modi would probably now turn the situation to his advantage," a BJP insider said.

The party worker pointed out that getting Jaitley involved in the matter would help Modi to politicise the issue and exploit its benefits to the hilt.Former Gujarat chief minister Suresh Mehta said: " It appears the BJP is also looking at extending the hardline Hindutva campaign represented by Modi at the national level as part of their strategy." While Jaitley took care of the press, Modi went on to defend himself in the public, penning his open letter to his "beloved countrymen". In his letter, Modi decried the "canards" being spread about him.

He stated: "I am constrained to write to you with a deep sense of anguish. Since the last eight years, canards have been spread against me." If we analyse the allegations levelled against me, then the truth will become evident. It is now my duty to place before you the facts that bring out the importance of understanding what the truth really is. "Modi added: "SIT had not fixed March 21, 2010, for my appearance.

To say that I was summoned on March 21 is completely false. I shall respond to the SIT fully respecting the law and keeping in view the dignity of a body appointed by the Supreme Court." He said the summons date of March 21 " was invented by some vested interest and as a part of their effort to interfere in the due process of law". But Modi failed to explain why state government spokesperson Jaynarayan Vyas had issued a statement on March 11 - the day when SIT had issued the notice - saying that " the BJP government and the chief minister would as usual always cooperate with the process of law".

The Gujarat High Court, on the other hand, sought a clarification on Monday from the Nanavati Commission, which is also probing the 2002 riots, to clarify whether it would summon Modi by April 1 for questioning.Cm defends self: "After the 2002 Godhra incidents, I had said no one is above the law, even if he happens to be the chief minister. These are not mere words. My actions have reflected this in its true spirit.""Some vested interests have been tarnishing the good image of my government. A systematic campaign through propagation of false reports (on the SIT summons) has been started against me.""The purveyors of untruth failed to think that March 21 happens to be a Sunday and did not bother to check whether the key SIT officers were even present in Gujarat on the day of the hearing""SIT had not fixed March 21 for my appearance. I shall respond to the SIT fully respecting the law and keeping in view the dignity of a body appointed by the Supreme Court.

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